BRACHIAL PLEXOPATHY IN INFANTS AFTER TRAUMATIC DELIVERY - EVALUATION WITH MR-IMAGING

PURPOSE: To determine the value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in diagnosing traumatic pseudomeningocele. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five new born infants with brachial plexopathy secondary to traumatic delivery underwent MR imaging of the spine and serial neurologic examinations, and the findings were compared. RESULTS: Cervical MR images showed foc al collections of cerebrospinal fluid lateral to the spinal cord and e xtending into the neural foramina. These were believed to represent ps eudomeningoceles in four infants, all of whom have persistent major ne urologic deficits. The infant with normal cervical MR images has had n early complete spontaneous recovery. CONCLUSION. Spinal MR images can show pseudomeningoceles, which have been associated with partial or co mplete nerve root avulsion in infants with birth-related brachial plex opathy.